I left my yarn in San Francisco

In case you all didn’t know, this Saturday, June 11 is International Yarn Bombing Day, as well as the start of Worldwide Knit in Public Week (11th – 19th)!

Unfamiliar with Yarn Bombing? Here is a fine example of what can be done with needles and hooks, a lot of patience and some tenacity, courtesy of an East Bay yarn artist Streetcolor:

Berkeley Bike Rack Yarn Bomb by Streetcolor, 2011

To prepare for this festive occasion, I have been scooting around my San Francisco neighborhood, maniacally measuring circumfrences of things. This afternoon, as I was hugging a concrete pole with my measuring tape, I had the ultimate lightbulb-brain flash to share my measurements with others who may want to participate in the yarn bombing fun this Saturday!

So here are my findings. Please keep in mind that these are specificallySan Francisco measurements and may not be relevant to your home town.

(Inches listed are circumfrences only)

CITY STREETS

Standard bike rack / sign post: 7.5″

Metal street or traffic light: 23.5″

Concrete street or traffic light: 27″

Regular traffic light: 17″

Street sign post: 11″

GOLDEN GATE PARK

Park bench slats: 10″ each

GGP map sign legs: 10″ each

Stairway railing: 6″

De Young Bike Rack: 7.5″

Lamp posts: 31″

There you have it, just a small sampling of what’s out there in SF, ready and waiting for your yarn. If you’re like me, you already have spare scraps or swatches that come close to some of those dimensions or you can probably whip something up pretty quickly. You could even make it in public — it isWWKIP Day after all!

Remember to bring some extra yarn, a crochet hook (or two), yarn needle, a pair of scissors and — if there are any left in the world — a trusted buddy. Most importantly, relax and have fun… the chances you’ll actually be arrested are pretty damn slim. Don’t get me wrong: I wouldn’t put it past “The Man” to request its immediate removal (it’s definitely coming down sometime anyway), or at the very worst issue a vandalism fine, but passersby are usually more intrigued than outraged when they do come across a yarn bomb in progress.

And you know what? Grandmas are even doing it. So please, get over that whole “Not Your Granny’s Crafts” bullshit already, get out there and put some yarn on things!!!